Specialization in Pet Illustration: From Sketch to Realism

Influences | Sarah Stokes

Here, Sarah will share with some of the many artists that have influenced her work.

Influences | Camila Correa Castro

Now Camila will show you key moments, phrases, and references that turned her way of seeing work.

Influences | Marcelo Rochá

Marcelo is going to talk about the great masters who most influenced his art and, mainly, his way of painting.

Module 2

Learn to turn complex anatomy into simple shapes and portray the essence of an animal through illustration and collage

9 lessons (1h 11m)

Selecting Your Media and Material

Here you will learn about a selection of material that will be used for this course as well as how to use them. I will show you some techniques that I use so you can try them out for yourself.

Choosing Reference Animals

I will go through my process of finding references, what makes a good reference and how to gather them together.

Complex Anatomy to Simple Shapes

Now I will show you how I sketch my animals using lines of action as well as how I turn complex anatomy structures into simple shapes that translate easily onto a page. Turning things that you want to draw into simpler forms is not a new concept and many artists use it. It is a way of making something much less intimidating and easier to build upon later.

Warming Up with Practice Sketches

In this lesson, you will learn to turn the simplified shapes back into more complex animal drawings. You will also see how you can begin to get your eye in via timed drawing challenges.

Creating Your Own Poses From Your Imagination

You will learn how to draw your own animals from your imagination and memory. The techniques you’ve learned so far will really start to apply here!

Bringing Visual Appeal

For this lesson, you will see how you can bring aesthetics to your drawing which will, in turn, help you develop your own unique style.

Colouring With Watercolours

Here you will learn about adding colour to your work in the form of watercolours as well as keeping that illustration refined to tell the story you want it to tell.

Building Up a Collage

I will show you how to create a collage with the illustration you’ve created using scrap paper, coloured tape and stickers.

Photographing and Sharing Your Work

In this lesson, you will learn tips on creating a nice photograph of your work for you to share with others.

Module 3

Embrace the simplicity of ink and charcoal and learn to print, draw, and paint striking black-and-white illustrations full of expression

13 lessons (2h 51m)

Opening Your Toolkit

To start, I will introduce you to the projects you will create in this course and share some important words about the inevitable frustrations of the creative process and how to combat them. I will also take you through the practical items you will need, including tools, materials, paper and everyday objects you can find around your home.

An Introduction to Monoprinting

Monoprinting is a very simple way of printing that doesn’t need a press or any expensive equipment. It is unpredictable, but that is a good thing! Here we will explore the basics of this technique and look at the different ways of creating marks with it.

Next Steps in Monoprinting

So far, you have seen how to create additive prints. In this lesson, I will show you other ways of printing and mark-making with subtractive printing and masking.

Experimental Monoprint Animals

Using everyday objects, I will teach you how to create exciting patterns and textures in monoprint using animal stencils as templates.

The Basics of Charcoal Drawing

We’ll start by getting to know the medium of charcoal and seeing why it is so forgiving! I will show you a few exercises to help you become familiar with this medium.

Choosing a Reference Photo

For this part of the project, we will be working from a photograph. To do so, I will explain what to consider when selecting or taking a good reference photo. Then, I will show you different methods of working with charcoal when drawing a simple dog’s head.

20m

Building Blocks

Now that we have explored the different techniques of drawing with a charcoal stick, we will move on to creating a charcoal portrait exploring tone, line, and expression.

Adding more than the basics isn't always necessary, but if you want to push yourself to create an intense drawing with greater depth, this lesson will take you through this process.

Increasing the Intensity

Let’s try a more experimental approach to working with charcoal by painting with charcoal powder and water. In this lesson, we will explore some of the effects that can be created with this combination.

Experimental Charcoal

Building a Composition

I will now talk you through some of the basic principles of drawing animals from life. You will see how you can use these – and photo references – to plan a composition for the last drawing.

14m

A Pair of Lemurs

We have mapped out the composition of the final image, so I will show you here how to paint and experiment with charcoal powder to create simple, expressive illustrations.

20m

How to Photograph, Scan, and Share the Work

First, I will show you how to photograph and scan your drawings to help them look great when you’re sharing them online – on the Domestika forum, on your website, or on social media.

How to Store the Work

Charcoal drawings need to be preserved carefully. Here, I will show you the best ways to protect your original drawings and prevent them from smudging.

Module 4

Bring the animal kingdom to life through captivating artwork by exploring a wide variety of watercolor techniques

29 lessons (7h 26m)

Materials

In this lesson I’m going to explain what will be covered in the course, including some of the new things that I haven’t shown you before on previous courses. I will then take you through the materials that we are going to be using and show you when you need to buy the best and when you can use budget items.

I’m going to explain what value is, why it’s so important and how to see it.

Tonal Values

In this lesson, I’m also going to show you how to draw a horse from a photograph using the gridding technique.

Gridding

How to Use Watercolour to Build Tone 1

Now, we’ll be looking at the basic layering techniques of watercolour, together with the differences between the qualities of paints, brushes and paper that you use.

How to Use Watercolour to Build Tone 2

Have you ever wonder how to work with the second layer? I will show you how to work with them, so you can get nice effects that will make your work better. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to do different effects by working the layers in different ways. Besides, I will give you some tips for you to know better your material, that way you will be able to do magnificent paintings.

It's time now to start working on our horse. I will do it monochromatic so you will learn more about tonal values. To start painting it we will first focus on the eyes, ears, and nose, I will share with you some tips for you to work those areas.

Painting the Horse 1

Perfection is not going to be very important yet! For now, I will teach you how to get the values in the right place. If you are having problems with keeping the shapes of your paintings, don't worry because you will learn how to get those shapes back again.

Painting the Horse 2

15m

First Approach to Colour 1

In this lesson, we will be working with just four colours from the tube and allowing them to mix on the paper to create a painting of a Siamese cat.

First Approach to Colour 2

You will learn how to mix the colours without concentrating them too much so you can get better tones and textures. You will see how to darken some places so your painting could look more realistic. We will bring this cat to life by working on its face, but sometimes watercolors are not enough for that, you will see how you can make some extra fine details with a pen.

14m

Painting a Loose Colourful Study

We will now explore how to create a loose watercolour study from a photograph using five colours.

Let's now apply the frist two layers of paint to the fox.

Painting the Fox

In this lesson you will learn basic colour theory and how this can help you paint animals more successfully.

Colour Mixing

You will then go on to paint a colourful eye with a full palette of colours.

Full Colour Palette

Masterclass in Texture and Shadow 1

In this lesson, you will learn how to render particularly difficult areas of an animal portrait such as antlers, horns, fur and complex multi layered areas such as chins.

Masterclass in Texture and Shadow 2

Leopard spots can be difficult to work because if you don't do it right they would look just like a spot in there. I will teach you how to blend those spots and how to apply the middle tones so you can get the textures and colours you need. Then, you will learn how to work in darker zones. The most important part of this lesson is you see how mixing colours and using different brushes will help you make a very realistic painting.

Masterclass in Texture and Shadow 3

Sometimes I like to give my paintings a wash off a colour that I think it's needed. Also, I will teach you how to apply the last details by using your fingers and a very thin brush. Finally, I will show you another example to work shadows and get some texture. You will learn how to paint the antlers. Remember, most of the time when you work on getting the right textures and tonal values it's about looking for the right colours and applying them correctly.

Masterclass in Texture and Shadow 4

Working with animals that have some kind of horns is going to take you some time because those required a lot of it. I will finish the example with the antipole. You will learn how to check all the tonal values, when to stop to make sure that everything is making sense, and how to blend the color to achieve the middle tones so you can get the textures and colours you need.

In this lesson, I will run through the palette and paints and then paint the eyes, nose, and ears to establish anchor points.

First Layer 1

Now I will work on how to paint the first couple of washes working both wet into wet and wet into damp, establishing the first, light sections of colour.

First Layer 2

In this lesson, I will darken the eyes and nose and add subsequent layers to the rest of the stag, lifting colour where necessary and reapplying darks.

Second Layer 1

During this second part of the lesson, you will learn how to correct your painting when it is becoming quite messy. Remember you will need to work in the same direction as the fur. Besides, I will show you where and when it's the perfect time to stop adding any more mix of colours in some areas, so you don't end up ruin all your work. As details are quite important, you will see how to work the exact details to help your painting to look more real.

Second Layer 2

In this lesson, I will make any final amendments to tone, colour and texture and also add some splashes.

Finishing Touches

Techniques for Backgrounds

Talking about backgrounds is almost a course in itself. However I want to help you create a fun background, and also leave you with the tools to explore the subject more

In the lesson, I will paint the background whilst incorporating sections of the fox.

Painting Background

Painting the First Layers of the Fox 1

I will start to paint the fox, but before starting to work on the body, I will focus on working the eye and the nose in order for us to have established the rest of the tonal values, that way it will be much easier to work on the rest of it. Be ready, because this is going to take us some time, and it will require all of your youpatience.

Painting the First Layers of the Fox 2

Now, I will be painting wet into wet and wet onto dry to build up tones on the fox. As in other exercises, you need to respect the direction of the fur if you want to get more realistic paintings.

Painting the Second Layer of the Fox and Finishing Touches

In this lesson, I will finish the fox, add gel pen work and look at the issue of edges and how they can aid composition.

Exploring Fantasy Colors and Loose Backgrounds

In this lesson I will show you pieces that I have painted in looser styles, with backgrounds and fantasy colours and share some tips and some of the pitfalls.

Professional Tips

Many of you will be keen to paint animals, both domestic, wild and livestock from your own photographs. In this lesson I am going to share some tips on how to take good animal photos. I will also give you some top tips about how to take your work to a professional level.

Materials and space organization

Module 5

Learn the techniques you need to create stunning pet portraits with colored pencils.

18 lessons (3h 16m)

In this lesson I will teach you how to organize your space and I will show you the materials that we will use and how to do it. Maintaining an organized workspace with what is necessary but sufficient will help our mind to stay focused on its task.

Color Theory 1

Knowing color theory will allow you to use the tools it offers to your advantage. The better you understand it, the more chances of achieving successes you will have.

We continue delving into color theory by reviewing how to use complementary colors and the possibilities of the different color wheels.

Color Theory 2

What is a good picture?

In this lesson I will teach you the features you need to be able to select a reference photo that will make your drawing work easier. Prepare your camera!

The Sketch

Drawing the sketch is the first step and the base on which we will work. It is a fundamental process on which the following ones will depend.

Technique for drawing eyes 1

In this lesson I will teach you how to draw the eyes, create reflections with spherical perspective and maintain the crystalline texture of the eyes and the texture of the iris.

Technique for drawing eyes 2

The texture and crystallinity of the eye are key to making the drawing come alive. We continue to see how to finish the eyes that I worked on in the previous video, and I will also show you various types of eyes.

Eyes on the Project

Now it's time to apply to the project everything I taught you in the previous lesson about drawing your pet's eyes.

Technique to make different noses

In this lesson I will explain how to make black, brown and pink noses. I will also tell you what are the details that you should take into account.

14m

The nose in the project

Finally, we are going to apply everything we have learned to work on the nose of the course project. Walk me through this process step by step.

Techniques for different coats 1

In this lesson I will teach you how to draw different types of fur and exercise your ability to observe color. As you draw the hair you should ask yourself if what you draw would feel like the real thing.

Techniques for different coats 2

I continue by explaining the technique to achieve realistic results when drawing the fur.

In this lesson, it is time to apply what was previously learned to the course project. I will start with the beards of my drawing.

The fur in project 1

I continue working on the fur of my project, finishing the beards and then moving on to the rest of the fur elements.

The fur in the project 2

Techniques for different ears

In this lesson I will explain how to draw standing ears and floppy ears. You must observe the reference well to accurately capture the details.

Finally, we are going to put the icing on our project. In this lesson I will teach you how to know what is missing or excessive in your drawing.

Finishes

Photographic record

Now I am going to give you some simple tips to register your work. So you can evaluate your process and produce and sell your drawings better,

Self appraisal

Finally, we are going to see the points to take into account to self-assess each job. This will allow you to level up more effectively.

Module 6

Learn to paint your pets from scratch in oils using the expressiveness of the alla prima technique

14 lessons (2h 8m)

My materials

Here, I will present the materials that we will use: brushes, canvases and their preparations, mediums, thinners, palette, easel, in addition to the cleaning and maintenance process, mainly, of the brushes.

Alla Prima Technique

Now, I will introduce the oil painting technique most used by contemporary painters, Alla Prima, or wet on wet. In addition, the use of impasto and the Bravura Brushwork technique.

Duality in oil painting

Duality is a fundamental concept in oil painting, because if we know how to explore it skillfully and together with the pictorial repertoire, which I will present in the next class, we will be able to add elements to the painting that will make it more interesting than the reference itself or subject. But for this theme to be more explicit, I will present it in practice in my own paintings. Since I started my painting studies, I began to notice how contrast, the antagonistic or what I try to call duality is very frequent in the works of the great masters of oil painting. Therefore, I prepared this class to address this concept and also because we are going to apply it in practice in this course.

Painting furballs in 3D 1

Let's create an exercise together where I'll paint three furballs in different colors explaining how to add depth to your work and why it's always important to have the idea of painting one thing inside the other. This exercise also serves as a reference for different coat colors for your future work. In addition, I will present techniques to better see a work that is in production, avoiding the problems that occur when we look at the same shape for a long time.

15m

Painting furballs in 3D 2

In this second part of the class, I'm going to paint Giove's reference sphere, with ivory black as the predominant color.

Best photo and composition

In this class, I will show you which photo will be used for our reference. I'll explain why I chose it, what types of photos work best in oil painting, and what compositional factors to consider.

Color Study

I will explain how to do a color study prior to painting to find out what the main colors and combinations will be used during the process of painting the reference.

In this class, I will explain the grid method to make the drawing and, as a support in this process, you will see how to use one of the apps that I presented earlier.

Drawing using apps

Starting with the darkest parts of the reference, in this lesson, I'll paint the eyes and nose.

Painting eyes and nose

With the darkest areas already painted, in this lesson, I'll paint the shadow areas of the subject starting with the midtone, that is, neither the lightest nor the darkest part of the shadows.

Painting the shadow

Painting the light

In the same way we did in the shadow painting, the light areas should also start with the midtones. In this class, you'll see how the ends of the light areas, especially the highlight, should go last.

Background and final touches

Now, I'm going to paint the background looking for a depth technique. This way, it will give us the feeling that the background is really far away, in the background of our main subject.